April 2025 Newsletter

Barbara Schenk • March 29, 2025

Dear friends,

 

These are tumultuous times for our nation. At the time of this writing, we have scheduled a Prayer Service for our Nation for Sunday, March 30 from 4-4:30 p.m. This brief service will include special music and time for shared prayers.

As I was thinking about the state of our nation and the continuation of our Lenten season, these beautiful words from a Lenten hymn, “Before the Cross of Jesus,” came into my mind

and heart:

The hopes that lead us onward,
The fears that hold us back,
Our will to dare great things for God,
The courage that we lack,
The faith we keep in goodness,
Our love, as low or pure -
On all, the judgment of the cross
Falls steady, clear, and sure.

 

Yet humbly, in our striving,
O God, we face its test.
We crave the power to do Thy will
With Him who did it best.
On us let now the healing
Of His great Spirit fall,
And make us brave and full of joy
To answer to His call.

 

Blessings and Peace,

Barbara


April Calendar


  • Friday, April 4: Quarter Auction 7PM
  • Saturday, April 5: Men’s Breakfast 8:20 AM
  • Sunday, April 6: Texas Roadhouse
  • Saturday, April 12: Drive Through 1-3 PM
  • Sunday, April 13: Palm Sunday
  • Sunday, April 13: Just Peace meeting
  • Thursday, April 17: Maundy Thursday
  • Friday, April 18: Good Friday (film service)
  • Sunday, April 20: Easter Sunday 8 & 10 AM

April Monthly Quarter Auction


We are holding our next Monthly Quarter Auction on Friday, April 4. Doors open at 6 PM, and the auction begins at 7 PM. Everyone is invited to bring quarters and friends for a fun evening and a chance to win some great items from our vendors! There will also be a raffle! Admission: $5 for two paddles. Our main vendor is One Call Away Vereans Support Center (OCA). Bring a personal hygiene item, to be donated to OCA, for a free third paddle. Dinner food and snacks will be available for purchase.



Souper Bowl of Caring Total


We collected a total of 238 cans of soup through our special Souper Bowl of Caring outreach offering. All soup was donated to the Emergency Cupboard of the Open Pantry. Thanks to everyone! We are also grateful for community folks who brought soup to our monthly Drive Through Collection of Food Donations.


Palm Sunday Service at 10am ( April 13)


On this day, we remember Jesus fulfilling ancient prophecy by riding into Jerusalem in a most unusual kind of parade.


Maundy Thursday Service (April 17) In-Person Service at 7pm


This service focuses on the Last Supper Jesus shared with his disciples. There is also a Service of Tenebrae (“Shadows”) including special scripture readings of the Passion of Jesus. 


Good Friday Service (April 18) Please Note: Filmed Service Only


The focus for this service is the crucifixion of Jesus, through the lens of “The Symbols of Good Friday.” The film will be posted on our website at fostermemorial.org, You Tube, and on our Facebook page.



Easter Sunday Services (April 20) In-Person at 8am and 10am


Our early service features the construction of our “Flowing Cross.” Our 10 AM service includes special music by our Chancel Choir and the “Unpacking of our Alleluias!” Please join us as we celebrate the resurrection of our Savior!



Upcoming Events


  • Saturday, April 5: Men’s Breakfast – all men welcome. Meet in front parking lot at 8:20 AM
  • Saturday, April 12: Drive Through Collection of Non-Perishable Food for Open Pantry 1-3 PM in the back parking lot of the church
  • Sunday, April 6 from 11:30 AM – 3 PM. Texas roadhouse Fundraising



Shrove Sunday Pancake Brunch held on March 2


Thank you to everyone who made this brunch very special. Thank you to Jim and the cooks, our youth and CE team and friends who served, and everyone who came to eat and join in the fun! We raised $430.00 which was gifted as a helping hand to the Afghan family with whom we walk alongside.



Recorded Worship Services


Along with in-person worship service, we offer pre-recorded worship services, posted each week (and for special services) on YOU Tube, on our Foster Memorial Church Facebook page and on our church website: http://www.fostermemorial.org/videos/

Worship services are also provided in print through the mail each week for people who do not have access to the internet




A note from Jim Wood's Sister, Sue:


Thank you all so very much for your support and friendship during Jim's illness and passing. It's a comfort to us in knowing how beloved he was, and your love for him will sustain us during this difficult time. In gratitude, Sue and Steve Saunders.

 

By Barbara Schnek October 27, 2025
Dear friends, This month, our thoughts turn to Thanksgiving and Blessings. I am grateful for the ways that we, as this community of faith, continue to offer encouragement and care for one another and shine God’s light of hope into the world. Blessings, Barbara Thanksgiving is a time of gratitude to God, our Creator and Provider, whose guidance and care go before us... and whose love is with us forever. Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on the changes, to remember that we, too, grow and change from one season of life to another. Let us remember the true meaning of Thanksgiving. As we see the beauty of Autumn, let us acknowledge the many blessings which are ours... and let us give thanks in our hearts. --Author Unknown
By Barbara Schnek October 3, 2025
Dear friends, October will be a very active month of events for our church’s outreach ministries. Please see separate articles in this newsletter. One of these events is the Greater Springfield CROP Hunger Walk. This Walk started 48 years ago in Springfield and is the first/oldest walk of its kind to be held in the city. Donations help our neighbors around the world through global and national partnerships with 25% staying in our local area, distributed through the Open Pantry, Lorraine’s Kitchen and Western MA Food Bank. This year’s walk will be held on Sunday, October 5 at Trinity United Methodist Church on Sumner Ave. Registration begins at 1 PM. There is DJ music and tee shirts for sale for $10.00. The walk begins at 2 PM. There is an option of a one mile or three-mile walk. Kevin Withers is our CROP Treasurer this year. Please speak to him if you would like a walker/sponsor sheet. Donations can be made with Kevin for our Team Donation Sheet. NOTE: all checks should be made out to CWS/CROP (not to the church) There is also a website through which donations can be made: https://events.crophungerwalk.org/crophungerwalks/team/foster -memorial-church-ucc All online donations will be matched, made possible by a generous donation from Bethesda Lutheran/East Congregational Churches. Over the years, CROP WALK has been a vital outreach ministry for our church. Everyone’s support is so appreciated. Blessings, Barbara
Foster September ews etterr
By Barbara Schnek August 26, 2025
Dear friends, We are going to be really busy in the next few months here at Foster! Highlights for September include Rally Sunday with an Ice Cream Socia and our September Quarter Auction. On September 21, we will be hosting the International Peace Day Fair/event, where agencies and faith communities come together for